New Orleans, La. -- Xavier University of Louisiana, which has long educated its students to assume leadership roles in a global society, has deepened its international connections through an education-focused collaboration with Taiwan. On Monday October 24, 2022, the University hosted a top delegation by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Houston and signed an agreement of collaboration with National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), a preeminent public institution in Taiwan. TECO and Xavier jointly hosted the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony with NCKU virtually.
“Xavier has existed to prepare changemakers instilled with its mission to promote a more just and humane society wherever they are called,” said Dr. Reynold Verret, President of Xavier University of Louisiana. “Our collaboration with NCKU and relationship with TECO will further exchange and learning for the students and scholars of our universities. Across distance and time zones, we are grateful to join in this endeavor and together journey to heal the world.”
President Verret, who will travel to Taiwan in 2022 through coordination with TECO to visit the Ministry of Education, NCKU, Fu Jen Catholic University, and other organizations, is looking forward to Xavier’s further international collaboration with Taiwan and beyond.
President Verret and Xavier’s Vice President and Chief of Staff Patrice Bell welcomed the TECO delegation, which included Director-General Robert Fu-Wen Lo, TECO Director of Education Andrea Yang, and TECO Director Jerry Chang. Dr. Anne McCall, Provost of Xavier University, introduced the delegation to the University’s illustrious academic prowess and history. Provost McCall was a signatory along with NCKU Executive Vice President and Professor Fong-Chin Su.
Executive Vice President Su expressed great enthusiasm about collaborating with Xavier’s College of Arts and Sciences and College of Pharmacy. Director Yang discussed the Huayu BEST Program, an exciting opportunity for Xavier to establish a Chinese language center on campus in Fall 2023 and provide support for Xavier students studying in Taiwan.
Other Xavier officials who attended the meeting and campus ceremony included Dr. Anderson Sunda-Meya, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Professor of Spanish and the Head of the Languages Department, Dr. Elizabeth Rousselle; Mr. Timothy Ambrose, Jr., Presidential Fellow; and Administrative Specialist of the Office of the President Trenell Smith.
After the Xavier-NCKU ceremony, President Verret and VP Bell accompanied the TECO delegation to meet with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell (‘97) to witness the signing of an agreement between New Orleans and Tainan (South Taiwan), a coastal city with an urban population of over 800,000.
Xavier’s international outreach with higher education institutions in Taiwan demonstrates the University’s commitment to fostering a supportive academic environment for students.
Original source can be found here.
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